Automatic weighing apparatus.



PATBNTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. L. PBPPARD. AUTOMATIC WBIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1905.

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, PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. L. PEPPARD. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Witnessw @wfi 15M .JOHN L. PEPPARD, OF KANSAS CITY,MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING APPARATUS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 28, 1905. Serial No. 267,472.

T all w/wnt it may concern.-

Be it known that I JOHN L. PEPPARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic WeighingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic weighing apparatus, and moreparticularly to that class for weighing grain in sacks; and my object isto produce apparatus of this character which operates efficiently andreliably, can be instantly adjusted to efi ect accurate weigl ing, andcan be easily, quickly, and cheaply assembled.

To this end the invention'consists in certain novel and peculiarfeatures of construction and organization, as hereinafter described andclaimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is tobe had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a diagrammaticplan view of a weighing apparatus embodying my invention with the spoutthereof shown in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is an end view of theapparatus with a part of it shown in section. Fig. 3 is a side View of apart of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the dotted lineIV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the character shown in Fig.4, but disclosing a slightly-modified construction. Fig. 6 is asectional perspective view of another modified form of construction.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates a grainspout leading from an overheadbin, (not shown;) 2, a bracket projecting from said spout, and 3 a roddepending from said bracket. 4 is a telescopic extension for the spout;5, a bracket projecting therefrom and slidingly engaging rod 3, and 6 aset-screw carried by bracket 5 to impinge on rod 3 and hold theextension at the desired point of adjustment.

Secured to the side walls of the extension and underlying the Wall 7thereof are cleats 8, so as to provide the interposed slot 9 for aslidable cut-0d 10, preferably of metal, the

cut-off being provided at one end with a slot 11 to form a handhold andin its upper side with a longitudinal series of notches 12 for a purposewhich hereinafter appears. At its opposite end the plate is providedwith a stem 13, engaged at its outer end by a wing-nut 14, an expansivecoil-spring 15, mounted on stem 13, hearing at its opposite ends againstwingn'ut 14, and the metallic bearing-plate 16, se-

cured to the extension and forming a guide for stem 13. The spring 15normally holds the cut-off in the position shown most clearly in Fig. 4to retain the grain in the spout.

At one end plate 16 is preferably equipped with a binding-post 17, andat its under side the slidabie cut-ofi", which is always in electricalconnection with plate 16, has an insulating-strip 18, adapted when thecut-off is open to engage the contact-spring 20, normally engaging theslidable cut-off and carried by the metallic cross-bar 19, secured tothe lower end of the extension.

Arranged vertically over the center of the slidable cut-off and securedto the opposite end wall 7 from plate 16 is a guide-bearing 21 for thevertical reciprocatory catch 22, depending from the armature 23 of anelectromagnet 24, secured by a bracket 25 to the extension. Theconduotors 26 and 27 from said magnet are electrically connected to thewallsocket 28, secured to the extension at any suit able point, saidwall-socket being of any suit able or preferred type, and therefore notillustrated in detail or particularly described. A similar socket 29,also secured to the extension at any suitable point, is connected byconductor 30 with binding-post 17 and by conductor 31 with binding-post33, secured to bar 19, a suitable switch 32 of common and wellknownconstruction and secured to the extension being mounted on conductor 31,so, as to make or break an electric circuit through said conductor. Allof the parts thus far described are by preference permanently carried bythe extension.

34 indicates a sack-holder of common and well-known construction, andtherefore not detailed or particular-y described, mounted on theplatform 35 of a suitable weighing-scale, the beam 36 of the scale beingshown in section.

37 is a bracket secured to the top of the scale and projecting laterallytherefrom, and 38 is an electromagnet carried by and insulated from saidbracket, the armature 39 of said magnet being pivoted, as at 40, on saidbracket and being provided by preference with an adjustable contact inthe form of a screw 41. 42 is a resilient needle carried by andinsulated from the armature and interposed between the same and thescale-beam and provided at its upper side with a platinum or equivalentcontact-point 43 for engagement at times with contact 41.

Normally holding the armature depressed,

and therefore away from the magnet, is a retractile spring 44, attachedat its lower end to the armature and atits upper end to a screw 45,extending through a projection of bracket 37 and engaged at its upperend by a thumbnut 46, whereby said spring may be tensioned, anadjustable stop 47, also mounted in bracket 37 and underlying theneedle, limiting the downward movement of the latter, so that it shallbe held normally out of contact with the scale-beam.

49 is a local battery adapted to be boxed (not shown) on a fixed part ofthe scale, and 50 is a conductor leading from the positive pole of saidbattery to an ordinary plug 51 for detachable engagement with socket 29.

52 is a conductor leading from the opposite pole of the battery tomagnet 38, and 53 a conductor leading from said magnet to saidsocket-plug and of course insulated from conductor 50, so that when theslidable cut-off is closed, as shown in Fig. 4 most clearly, thecircuitis as follows: from the battery through conductor 50 to socket29, then through conductor 30, binding-post 17, plate 16, cut-off 10,spring-contact 20, bar 19, binding-post 33, and conductor 31, and switch32 thereof back to said socket 29, thence through conductor 53 to themagnet 38, and from said magnet through conductor 52 to the battery.

When the switch is closed, the magnet 38 is energized so that it shallattract armature 39 and hold the same and the resilient needle 42elevated, so that the latter is entirely above the range of movement ofthe scale-beam, as shown in Fig. 2. hen the switch is open, the magnetis deenergized and the spring 44 depresses the armature until the needleis arrested by adjustable stop 47 and is within the range of upwardmovement of the scale-beam, as shown in Fig. 5.

54 is the main battery, which is also adapted to be boxed onto thescale-beam in any suitable manner, (not shown,) and 55 is a conductorconnecting the positive pole of said battery with a plug 56 of the samecharacter as plug 51 and detachably engaging the socket 28. A conductor57 leads from the negative pole of the battery to the needle in Fig. 2or to the scale-beam, as in Fig. 5, it being understood that with theconstruction shown in Fig. 5 the conductor 57 will preferably beconnected to said beam 36 at the fulcrum-point thereof and not directly,as shown, the showing in said Fig. 5 being for convenience ofillustration. Conductor 58 leads from the armature to the plug 56, andin this connection it should be stated that the conductors for eachcircuit in practice are twisted together for compactness and greaterconvenience in handling. In view of the fact that the needle andarmature of Fig. 2 and the scale-beam and needle 60 of Fig. 5, in whichfigure the needle is simply an extension of the armature, are normallyout of contact it will be apparent that when the magnet 38 isdeenergized and the scale-beam rises and contacts with needle 60 orengages needle 42 and causes it to engage contact-point 41 a circuit isestablished, which is as follows: from battery 54, through conductor 55,to socket 28, from said socket, through magnet 24 and conductor 26, backto the socket, thence through conductor 58, through the armature andneedle, to the scalebeam, and from the latter, through conductor 57,back to the battery 54.

lVhen the weighing operation is to begin, the sack 59 is secured uponthe sack-holder in the usual manner vertically below the spout. Theoperator then sets the poise (not shown) at the required point on thebeamsay to weigh one hundred poundsand grasping the handle of thecut-off through slot 11 draws said cut-off toward him against theresistance of spring 15 the required distance, the gravity-catch 22slipping from notch to notch 12 and holding the cut-off at the desiredpointof adjustment. As the cut-off is thus opened, assuming that theswitch 32 is closed, the insulating-strip 18 comes into engagement withcontact spring 20 and breaks the circuit through battery 49, and as aresult magnet 38 is deenergized and the armature and needle drop untilarrested by the adjustable stop 47, as hereinbefore explained. At theinstant the cut-off is opened the grain of course begins to fall intothe sack and continues to fall until its weight causes the beam to riseand in the construction shown in Fig. 2 push the needle 42 until itscontact-point 43 engages adjustable contact 41, so as to complete thecircuit from the battery 54, this result being instantly followed by theenergization of mag net 24 and the attraction of its armature 23, whichraises the catch from engagement with the slide and permits spring 15 toinstantly close the cut-off.

In practice in view of the fact that there is a quantity of the grain inthe air when the beam begins to rise viz that quantity from the cut-offto the level of grain in the sack (indicated by dotted line a)-theadjustable stop 47 is set to permit the needle to descend below thebalancing-point, so that the beam will contact with it before saidbeamis balanced. The instant the contact is made and the cut-oflf isclosed the insulating-stri 18 is withdrawn from engagement with spring20, and the latter snaps into engagement with the cut-0E andreestablishes the circuit through battery 49, and therefore reeleratesthe needle to its original position above the rangeof movement of thebeam, so that the operator by observing the latter can tell whether itis exactly balanced or not. For the purpose of predetermining the weightof the grain which enters the sack as and after the cut-off is closedthe following mechanism is provided: 64 indicates an indicator carriedby the spout extension, to he slid downwardly by the operator after onesack is filled until the lower end of said indicator touches the grainin the sack, said indicator being then secured by the setscrew rigidlywith relation to the extension, so that in case the extension isafterward adjusted vertically upon the spout or removed therefrom andplaced upon another it can be quickly and easily secured at the properheight by first balancing a hundredpound sack of grain upon the scalesand then adjusting the extension until the indicator 64; touches thegrain in the sack, set-screw 65 being then manipulated to clamp theextension at such point.

When the apparatus is not in use, the switch 32 is turned to break thecircuit through battery 49, so as to conserve its energy, and therebyoperate the apparatus on an economical basis.

By disengaging plugs 51 and 56 from their respective sockets the scaleand the parts carried thereby can be shifted to a second spout andelectrically connected therewith by causing the engagement of said plugswith the sockets of said second spout, so that it will be unnecessary toprovide more than one scale with the attachments carried thereby unlessthe volume of business justifies it. For further economy the entireextension 4: may also be removed from spout 1 and placed upon anotherspout, provided each is equipped with independent cut-ofis, (not shown,)so that the grain cannot escape when the extension is removed. As theuse of such cut-off for the spout involves no invention, it has not beenillustrated.

The needle construction shown in Fig. 2 is the preferredconstruction,because the electric current does not pass through the scalebeam,whereas in the construction shown in Fig. 5 where the current passesthrough the beam the latter becomes blackened and disfigured, because ofthe arcing incident to the breaking of the circuit between it and theneedle.

In Fig. 6 the conductor 57 may be connected electrically to themercury-cup 61 and the former be adapted to come in contact with theneedle 42 or 60, as the case may be, said bar 62 being movable with butinsulated from the beam, as at 63.

It is obvious that other modifications will readily suggest themselves,and for this reason it is to be understood that I do not restrict myselfto the precise constructioniorm, and arrangement illustrated.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination of a spout, aweighing-scale, an electric circuit, comprising a source ofelectricsupply, an electromagnet having a yieldingly-retracted armature,a slidable cut-elf for the spout, and a contact yieldingly engaging thecut-off when closed, with a needle movable with the armature and out ofthe range of movement of the scale-beam when the cut-off is closed, andmeans actuated by the cut-off when open to break the circuit between itand the contact.

2. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination of a spout, aweighing-scale, an electric circuit, comprising a source of electricsupply, an electromagnet having a yieldingly-retracted armature, meansto limit the retractive movement of the armature, a slidable cut-ofi forthe spout, and a contact yieldingly engaging the cut-off when closed,with a needle movable with the armature and out of range of movement ofthe scale -beam when the cut-off is closed, and means actuated by thecut-off when open to break the circuit between it and the contact.

3. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination of a spout, aweighing-scale, an electric circuit, comprising a source of electricsupply, an electromagnet having a yieldingly-retracted armature, aslidable cut-off for the spout, a switch, and a contact yieldinglyengaging the cu t-off when closed, with a needle movable with thearmature and out of the range of movement of the scale-beam when thecut-off is closed, and means actuated by the cut-off when open to breakthe circuit between it and the contact.

4:. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination of a spout, acut-off therefor, armature-retractable means for holding the cutoffopen, a source of electric supply, an electromagnet connected thereto, aneedle electrically connected to the source of electric supply and themagnet, a weighing-scale, means whereby the rising of the scale-beamuntilit contacts with the needle, results in the completion of a circuitthrough and the consequent energization of the magnet and causes it totrip the armature-retractable means from engagement with the cut-off,and means to close the cut-ofi' when released.

5. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination of aspout, aslidable cut-off therefor, a source of electric supply, a magnet incircuit with such source of electric supply and cut-off when the latteris closed and out of circuit therewith when the cut-off is open, anarmature for said magnet provided w'itha contact-point, a spring forretracting said armature when the circuit is broken, a resilient needlecarried by and insulated from said armature and overlying thescale-beam, a catch holding the cut-off open, an armature connected tosaid catch, an electromagnet for said armature, a source of electricsupply, electric conductors connecting the last-named source of electricsupply with the last-named magnet and the needle, and electricconductors connecting said first-named armature with thelast-namedelectromagnet.

6. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the

combination of a spout, a slidable cut-off therefor, a source ofelectric supply, a magnet in circuit with such source of electric supplyand cut-'ofi when the latter is closed and out of circuit therewith whenthe cut-off is open, an armature for said magnet provided with acontact-point, a spring forretracting said armature when the circuit isbroken, a resilient needle carried by and insulated from said armatureand overlying the scale-beam, a catch holding the cut-off open, anarmature connected to said catch, an electromagnet for said armature, asource of electric supply, electric conductors connecting the last-namedsource of electric supply with the last-named magnet and the needle,electric conductors connecting said first-named armature with thelast-named magnet, and means whereby the cut-off is automatically closedwhen the rising of the scale-beam causes the needle and the armaturecarrying it to come into contact and establish the circuit whichenergizes the last-named magnet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN L. PEPPARD. Witnesses:

A. C. Ronenns, G. Y. THORPE.

